Life passes much too quickly and one day we may regret that we didn’t take one minute out of our busy schedules to show that someone special just how much we care. 

Romance doesn’t just happen and it isn’t always easy. You must make a conscious effort to be romantic. I hope the following tips and ideas will be helpful!

50 Ideas to Romance Your Partner in 1 Minute or Less:

Develop a “secret code” between you and your mate. It’s an easy and non-embarrassing way to say “I love you” when in public. It could be a hand signal or a short sentence such as “nice weather today”. It’s fun and even a bit flirty!

Leave them a voicemail on their cell phone when you know it’s not on. That way they’ll have a surprise waiting for them.

Next time Valentine’s Day rolls around, buy a box of the silly kids’ Valentine cards and use them throughout the year (sparingly or course or it will get old). Leave one in the car, in his/her lunch or briefcase, etc.

Buy a few extra greeting cards next time you are at the store to have on hand for special occasions. Place one under the pillow, next to their dinner plate, etc for a quick and easy surprise.

On a cold morning, sneak out to the garage and warm up the car for him/her.

When he/she is in the shower, warm their towel in the dryer.

Send a secret postcard or greeting card the old fashioned way – USPS.

Place a tiny dab of your perfume on a low watt light bulb. When the light is turned on, the scent will fill the room and he will instantly be reminded of you.

Light candles with your meals, even if it’s pizza delivery!

Start a pillow fight (you may start more than that!)

Give a quick shoulder massage without being asked.

When arriving home from an outing, kiss outside the door – just like you did as a teenager!

Start every day with a kiss.

Compliment each other. A little flattery goes a long way!

Play footsie while watching TV.

Take it from Stevie…I just called…to say…I love you. Then hang up.

Hold hands in public and show the world you belong to each other!

Give them a penny. When asked what it is for, say it’s to remind them how much you love them. Do this periodically. Eventually, every time they see a penny, they will think about you and how much you love them. (Even if it’s just a penny on the street!)

Learn how to say “I love you” in a different language. It sounds “exotic”.

Pay attention to the little things without his/her knowledge. If he/she mentions that a new flavor of ice cream (for example) looks good, don’t acknowledge their comment and then buy it as a surprise next time you are at the store. They will be flattered that you remembered! 

For the easygoing (and willing) partner, try an impromptu tattoo (ex. your names in a heart) with a washable pen. I wouldn’t recommend a Sharpie for this one! 

For the heavy sleeper, (you better know your partner well for this one) try to draw a tattoo on them while they are sleeping!

It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul. When was the last time you looked deeply into your partner’s eyes? Go on…give it a try.

Touch.

Kiss in the rain.

Toss a coin in a fountain and make a wish together.

Cuddle together.

Draw him/her a bubble bath.

Never stop flirting, even if you’ve been married a long time.

Whisper something sweet in each other’s ears. In public, people will wonder what you’re up to.

Never stop getting to know each other because people change over time. Place a small white board on the fridge, or near your desk(s). Agree to ask each other a quick question about the other person on a regular basis. (once a day or once a week) If you prefer something more permanent, invest in a notebook or journal instead.

Hug each other.

Greet him or her at the door when they arrive home from work with a smile and a “how was your day?”

Say “I love you” whenever you get the chance because, well, you just never know…

Tickle each other.

Imitate him/her. Seriously. It’s been proven that when one imitates the other’s gestures; it makes him/her feel closer to the one imitating them. For example, if she raises her eyebrows often during a conversation, he should do the same. Be subtle with this one.

 At the beach, write something romantic in the sand.

Make a “love horoscope” for him/her as a hint of what’s to come.

End every day with a kiss.

And last, but not least, creative places for leaving love notes:

Lipstick on the mirror.

Under a windshield wiper.

In the fridge.

In between the pages of their newspaper, book or magazine.

Sticky notes placed almost anywhere.

Under a pillow.

In the condensation on the bathroom mirror.

On a fogged or frosted car window.

On a dusty vehicle.

In their lunch bag or briefcase.

In a jacket pocket.

50 Romantic Activities to Do Together:

Have an indoor picnic. 

Playgrounds aren’t just for kids. Go ahead, swing to your heart’s content. You know you want to…

Arrange a completely secret overnight getaway.

Go for a walk…and hold hands.

Watch the sun set together.

Cuddle during a thunderstorm and watch the lightening show together. 

Start a scrapbook together. For example, save the tickets from a movie date, place them in the scrap book and each of you write a favorite memory from that date.

No matter how busy life gets, arrange a date night at least once every other week and stick to it no matter what! If day care is an issue, barter with a friend or relative. (You watch their kids one Saturday and they watch your kids the next Saturday)

Bake cookies together.

Take a fall drive to see the leaves changing colors.

Rent a horse-drawn carriage.

Have a candle-lit picnic on the patio or in the back yard.

Start a time capsule together.

Go somewhere busy and people watch.

Cook a meal together.

Go to a free concert in the park.

Have breakfast in bed.

Star Gaze.

Take a class together.

Build a puzzle together on a rainy day.

Visit a planetarium.

Go camping together. No TV, no computer, no distractions. Just the two of you sitting around a campfire…ah…

Plan a movie marathon. 

If you have a portable DVD player, watch a movie in your car at night and pretend you are at the drive-in!

At Christmas time, drive around and view all the decorated houses.

See a play, opera or other venue that you’ve never done before. It’ll be an adventure!

Play games at a kiddie arcade – but don’t bring the kids! (Chuck E. Cheese, for example)

Rent a small rowboat or paddleboat.

Build a snowman together.

Take a walk in the rain and splash in the puddles.

Slow dance in the living room to your favorite song.

Order personalized M&M’s from www.shop.mms.com. You get up to 2-two line messages with eight characters each line. At $45, this is quite expensive for the minimum order of 4 - 8 oz. bags, but he/she will definitely melt in your hands.

Burn the sweats. Dress up in your finest and go out to dinner.

Instead of tissue paper, use small pre-wrapped candies to surround and protect a smaller gift inside a larger box.

Make a hand-made greeting card.

Write him/her a poem. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. It’s the thought that counts!

Color together. You know what I’m talking about. Crayons, coloring book…

Go to a travel expo or show and talk about all the places you’d like to visit together.

Play board games and make up your own rules. (Could be quite interesting!)

In the fall, pick apples together and then go on a hayride.

Hire a limo for the evening, stock it with snacks and beverages and ride around town. 

Rent a convertible for the weekend.

Go to a pond and feed the ducks.

Invent a holiday in honor of your mate and celebrate it every year.

Instead of flowers, surprise him/her with a bouquet of balloons. Make sure one of them is a heart shaped balloon.

Tour a local mansion.

Spend a night at a bed and breakfast.

Visit a Spa for his & hers massages.

In the winter, go for a sleigh ride. You’ll get bonus points if it starts snowing!

Find the tallest building in your city with a restaurant at the top. Enjoy a nice dinner at sunset, and then view all the city lights!

We are all aware of the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule or the ethic of reciprocity is found in the scriptures of nearly every religion:

Treat others as you wish to be treated. 

To add to that sentiment, giving is also infectious. Of course the whole idea of giving is to do so from your heart without expecting anything in return. 

Try a few of these romance tips. I think you will be surprised to see what kind of response you may receive. And lastly, don’t save romance for special occasions. Adding a bit of romance to your everyday living will keep your love alive for years and years.